| Erie Canal - Distance Table (Eastern Half) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie Canal Distances (Statute Miles) | Troy Lock | Lock E2-Waterford, NY | Lock E-8-Scotia, NY | Lock E11- Amsterdam, NY | Lock E14-Canajoharie, NY | Lock E17-Little Falls, NY | Ilion, NY | Utica, NY | Rome, NY | Sylvan Beach, NY | Brewerton, NY | Three Rivers Junction |
| Troy Lock | 0.0 | 2.74 | 26.15 | 41.40 | 63.06 | 81.10 | 91.19 | 102.99 | 117.02 | 131.24 | 152.78 | 163.19 |
| Lock E2-Waterford, NY | 2.74 | 0.0 | 23.41 | 38.66 | 60.32 | 78.36 | 88.45 | 100.25 | 114.28 | 128.50 | 150.04 | 160.45 |
| Lock E-8-Scotia, NY | 26.15 | 23.41 | 0.0 | 15.24 | 36.91 | 54.95 | 65.04 | 76.84 | 90.87 | 105.09 | 126.63 | 136.41 |
| Lock E11- Amsterdam, NY | 41.40 | 38.66 | 15.25 | 0.0 | 21.66 | 39.70 | 49.79 | 61.59 | 75.62 | 89.94 | 111.38 | 121.16 |
| Lock E14-Canajoharie, NY | 63.06 | 60.32 | 36.91 | 21.66 | 0.0 | 18.04 | 28.13 | 39.93 | 53.96 | 68.18 | 89.72 | 99.50 |
| Lock E17-Little Falls, NY | 81.10 | 78.36 | 54.95 | 39.70 | 18.04 | 0.0 | 10.09 | 21.89 | 35.92 | 50.14 | 71.68 | 81.46 |
| Ilion, NY | 91.19 | 88.45 | 65.04 | 49.79 | 28.13 | 10.09 | 0.0 | 11.80 | 25.83 | 40.05 | 61.59 | 71.37 |
| Utica, NY | 102.99 | 100.25 | 76.84 | 61.59 | 39.93 | 21.89 | 11.80 | 0.0 | 14.03 | 28.25 | 49.79 | 59.57 |
| Rome, NY | 117.02 | 114.28 | 90.87 | 75.62 | 53.96 | 35.92 | 25.83 | 14.03 | 0.0 | 14.22 | 35.76 | 45.54 |
| Sylvan Beach, NY | 131.24 | 128.50 | 105.09 | 89.94 | 68.18 | 50.14 | 40.05 | 28.25 | 14.22 | 0.0 | 21.54 | 31.32 |
| Brewerton, NY | 152.78 | 150.04 | 126.63 | 111.38 | 89.72 | 71.68 | 61.59 | 49.79 | 35.76 | 21.54 | 0.0 | 9.78 |
| Three Rivers Junction | 163.19 | 160.45 | 136.41 | 121.16 | 99.50 | 81.46 | 71.37 | 59.57 | 49.54 | 31.32 | 9.78 | 0.0 |
| Distances in Statute Miles | ||||||||||||
BlueSeas
Erie Canal Distances
Erie Canal Distances,
Speed Limits, and Transit Times
The Erie Canal is the longest canal section in the New York State Canal System. Beginning at lock E2 in Waterford, NY, the Erie Canal runs 338.75 SM (294.37 NM) to the Niagara River at Tonawanda, NY. From there to Buffalo, NY and Lake Erie via the Black Rock Canal is an additional 12.3 SM (10.69 NM).
The Erie Canal Distance Tables (shown below) are broken down into (2) parts; the eastern half of the canal from the Troy Lock in Troy, NY to Three Rivers Junction near Phoenix, NY and the western half from Three Rivers Junction west to Buffalo, NY.
These tables provide distances between many of the major points along the length of the canal. When used in conjunction with the speed limits throughout the canal and the transit times, it may be useful in planning your trip as well as an aid in computing passage times between major points along the way.
Distance Tables
| Erie Canal - Distance Table (Western Half) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie Canal Distances (Statute Miles) | Troy Lock | Three Rivers Jct. | Junction-C-S Canal | Lyons, NY | Newark, NY | Fairport, NY | Junction-Genesee River | Spencerport, NY | Medina, NY | Lock E35-Lockport,NY | Three Mile Island | Niagara River |
| Troy Lock | 0.0 | 163.19 | 204.12 | 223.74 | 229.41 | 249.41 | 263.19 | 274.12 | 306.39 | 323.46 | 338.00 | 341.46 |
| Three Rivers Jct. | 163.19 | 0.0 | 40.93 | 60.55 | 66.22 | 86.22 | 100.00 | 110.93 | 143.20 | 160.27 | 174.81 | 178.27 |
| Junction-C-S Canal | 204.12 | 40.93 | 0.0 | 19.62 | 25.39 | 45.29 | 59.07 | 70.00 | 102.27 | 119.34 | 133.88 | 137.34 |
| Lyons, NY | 223.74 | 60.55 | 19.62 | 0.0 | 5.67 | 25.67 | 39.45 | 50.38 | 82.65 | 99.72 | 114.26 | 117.72 |
| Newark, NY | 229.41 | 66.22 | 25.39 | 5.67 | 0.0 | 20.00 | 33.78 | 44.71 | 76.98 | 94.05 | 108.59 | 112.05 |
| Fairport, NY | 249.41 | 86.22 | 45.29 | 25.67 | 20.00 | 0.0 | 21.64 | 32.57 | 64.84 | 81.91 | 96.45 | 99.91 |
| Junction-Genesee River | 263.19 | 100.00 | 59.07 | 39.45 | 33.78 | 21.64 | 0.0 | 22.48 | 54.75 | 71.82 | 86.36 | 89.82 |
| Spencerport, NY | 274.12 | 110.93 | 70.00 | 50.38 | 44.71 | 32.57 | 22.48 | 0.0 | 32.27 | 49.34 | 63.88 | 67.34 |
| Medina, NY | 306.39 | 143.20 | 102.27 | 82.65 | 76.98 | 64.84 | 54.75 | 32.27 | 0.0 | 17.07 | 31.61 | 35.07 |
| Lock E35-Lockport,NY | 323.46 | 160.27 | 119.34 | 99.72 | 94.05 | 81.91 | 71.82 | 49.34 | 17.07 | 0.0 | 14.54 | 18.00 |
| Three Mile Island | 338.00 | 174.81 | 133.88 | 114.26 | 108.59 | 96.45 | 86.36 | 63.88 | 31.61 | 14.54 | 0.0 | 3.46 |
| Niagara River | 341.46 | 178.27 | 137.34 | 117.72 | 112.05 | 99.91 | 89.82 | 67.34 | 35.07 | 18.00 | 3.46 | 0.0 |
| Distances in Statute Miles | ||||||||||||
These tables can be downloaded for your personal and private use. The files are Zipped Adobe (.pdf) format. The Erie Canal distance files contain the tables in Statute Miles, Nautical Miles, and Kilometers.
Erie Canal Distance Tables - Download
Speed Limits
The speed limits for the Erie Canal are as follows:
| Erie Canal Speed Limits (Eastern Half) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canal Leg | MPH | Knots | KPH | ||||||
| Lock E2 to Lock E6 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 8.0 | ||||||
| Lock E6 to Lock E12 | 45.0 | 39.1 | 72.4 | ||||||
| Lock E12 to Lock E16 | 30.0 | 26.1 | 48.3 | ||||||
| Lock E16 to Lock E17 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 8.0 | ||||||
| Lock E17 to Guard Gate #4 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 8.0 | ||||||
| Guard Gate #4 to Lock E21 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 8.0 | ||||||
| Lock E21 to Sylvan Beach Breakwater | 5.0 | 4.3 | 8.0 | ||||||
| Oneida Lake | UNLIMITED | ||||||||
| I-81 Bridge (E-63A) to Three Rivers Junction | 5.0 | 4.3 | 8.0 | ||||||
| Except in the vicinity of locks or as otherwise posted. | |||||||||
| Erie Canal Speed Limits (Western Half) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canal Leg | MPH | Knots | KPH | ||||||
| Three Rivers Junction to and including State Ditch Cut | 10.0 | 8.7 | 16.1 | ||||||
| Buoy R "408" at end of State Ditch Cut to Lock E26 | 30.0 | 26.1 | 48.3 | ||||||
| Lock E26 to Lock E32 | 10.0 | 8.7 | 16.1 | ||||||
| Lock E32 to Lock E33 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 8.0 | ||||||
| Lock E-33 to Three Mile Island | 10.0 | 8.7 | 16.1 | ||||||
| Three Mile Island to Niagara River | 5.0 | 4.3 | 8.0 | ||||||
| Except in the vicinity of locks or as otherwise posted. | |||||||||
These speed limits are valid except in the vicinity of the locks and unless otherwise posted. The standard caveat also applies - "You are Responsible for your Wake!"
The Erie Canal Speed Tables can be downloaded for your personal and private use. The file is Zipped Adobe (.pdf) format.
Erie Canal Speed Tables - Download
Transit Times
As a general guide, Waterford, NY to Oswego, NY can be done in a little over a day and a half at the posted speed limits. More realistically however, you should figure on 3 days to make the trip.
From Waterford, NY to Buffalo, NY at the posted speed limits can be done in a little less than 4 days. However, about 5 days should be planned for.
| Erie Canal Transit Times (Eastern Half) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transit Times @ The Lesser of: Indicated Speeds or Posted Speed Limit | |||||||||
| Canal Leg | # of Locks | Transit Time @ Posted Speed Limit |
MPH - Knots - KPH - |
5.0 4.3 8.1 |
10.0 8.7 16.1 |
15.0 13.0 24.1 |
|||
| Lock E2 to E6 (Waterford, NY) | 5 | 2.0 Hrs. | 2.0 Hrs. | 2.0 Hrs. | 2.0 Hrs. | ||||
| Lock E6 to Lock E12 (Tribes Hill, NY) | 6 | 3.0 Hrs. | 10.7 Hrs. | 6.3 Hrs. | 4.9 Hrs. | ||||
| Lock E12 to Lock E16 (St Johnsville, NY) | 4 | 1.3 Hrs. | 6.8 Hrs. | 4.1 Hrs. | 3.2 Hrs. | ||||
| Lock E16 to Lock E17 (Little Falls, NY) | 1 | 1.1 Hrs. | 2.9 Hrs. | 2.1 Hrs. | 2.1 Hrs. | ||||
| Lock E17 to GG #4 | 0 | 10.3 Min. | 10.3 Min. | 10.3 Min. | 10.3 Min. | ||||
| Guard Gate #4 to Lock E21 (New London, NY) | 4 | 5.8 Hrs. | 10.2 Hrs. | 5.8 Hrs. | 5.8 Hrs. | ||||
| Lock E21 to Sylvan Beach, NY) | 1 | 1.7 Hrs. | 1.7 Hrs. | 1.7 Hrs. | 1.7 Hrs. | ||||
| Sylvan Beach, NY to Brewerton, NY | 0 | 35.4 Min. | 5.3 Hrs. | 2.7 Hrs. | 1.8 Hrs. | ||||
| Brewerton, NY to Three Rivers Junction | 1 | 1.0 Hrs. | 1.7 Hrs. | 1.0 Hrs. | 1.0 Hrs. | ||||
| Total Transit Time (Waterford, NY to Three Rivers Junction): | 16.7 Hrs | 41.5 Hrs | 25.8 Hrs | 22.6 Hrs | |||||
| Erie Canal Transit Times (Western Half) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transit Times @ The Lesser of: Indicated Speeds or Posted Speed Limit | |||||||||
| Canal Leg | # of Locks | Transit Time @ Posted Speed Limit |
MPH - Knots - KPH - |
5.0 4.3 8.1 |
10.0 8.7 16.1 |
15.0 13.0 24.1 |
|||
| Three Rivers Junction to State Ditch Cut | 1 | 2.4 Hrs. | 4.6 Hrs. | 2.4 Hrs. | 2.4 Hrs. | ||||
| State Ditch Buoy R"408" to Lock E-26 | 2 | 1.6 Hrs. | 6.1 Hrs. | 3.4 Hrs. | 2.5 Hrs. | ||||
| Lock E-26 to Lock E-32 | 6 | 6.6 Hrs. | 11.2 Hrs. | 6.6 Hrs. | 6.6 Hrs. | ||||
| Lock E-32 to Lock E-33 | 1 | 35.1 Min. | 35.1 Min. | 35.1 Min. | 35.1 Min. | ||||
| Lock E-33 to Three Mile Island | 2 | 8.6 Hrs. | 16.4 Hrs. | 8.6 Hrs. | 8.6 Hrs. | ||||
| Three Mile Island to Niagara River | 0 | 41.4 Min. | 41.4 Min. | 41.4 Min. | 41.4 Min. | ||||
| Total Transit Time (Three Rivers Junction to the Niagara River): | 20.5 Hrs | 31.8 Hrs | 22.3 Hrs | 21.4 Hrs | |||||
The Erie Canal Transit Times Tables are available in Statute Miles, Nautical Miles, and Kilometers/meters and can be downloaded for your personal and private use. The file is Zipped Adobe (.pdf) format.
